Check device for heavy springs



w. J. HARBERT 2,758,833

CHECK DEVICE FOR HEAVY SPRINGS Aug. 14, 1956 Filed March 17, 1955 Awe/M.ly zz/ar (27/414112:

United States Patent CHECK DEVICE FOR HEAVY SPRINGS William J. Harbert,Long Beach, Calif.

Application March '17, 1955, Serial No. 494,981

Claims. (Cl. 26774) This invention relates to a check device for heavysprings, such as the springs which support an overhead garage door.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel check device which willeffectively support a structure to which a heavy spring is attached inevent that the spring should accidentally break.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel check device of thecharacter stated, which will permit the free movement of the springunder normal operation, but will immediately support the load in eventthat the spring should accidentally break.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel check device forheavy springs, including a latch mechanism, said latch mechanism beingonly operable to engage a rod in event that the spring should break.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an overhead doorsuspension.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a spring suspension including myinvention.

Figure 3 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the tiltable check latch.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates anoverhead door of the type used on garages and is one place where myinvention can be used. The door 1 is supported on a lever 2 which issuitably pivotally attached at one end to the door and at the other endto the framework of the door. A coil spring 3 is secured at one end to amounting plate 4 which is suitably attached to the door framework, orthe like. A ring 5 is attached to the plate 4 and the lower end of thespring 3 is formed with a loop 6 to engage the ring 5. The upper end ofthe spring 3 is attached to a coupling 7 and this coupling or saddleserves as a means of connecting or attaching the upper end of the springto the end of the lever 2. A ring 8 is attached to the lever 2 and theconnection between the saddle 7 and the ring 8 is accomplished asfollows:

A clamp fitting 9 engages both the saddle 7 and the ring 8. The ends ofthe clamp are preferably connected by a bolt 10. This construction isused in order to easily connect the saddle 7 and the ring 8. One end ofthe clamp 9 is arcuate as shown, for a purpose to be further described.A rod 11 extends through the entire length of the spring 3 and issubstantially longer than the spring. The lower end of the rod is formedas an eye 12 and extends through the ring 5, as shown. The clamp 9 isprovided with holes 13 therethrough and the rod 11 extends through theseholes. The rod 11 is freely slidable through the holes 13 and,therefore, moves freely with the spring 3, as this spring elongates orcontracts. A tiltable check latch 14 is positioned in the clamp 9 andthe foot 15 thereof is curved so as to fit in the 2,758,833 PatentedAug. 14, :1956

curved position of the clamp 9. The saddle 7 bears against the foot 15and normally holds the check latch in the position shown in *full linesin Figure 2. A hole 16 is formed in the latch 14 and this hole issomewhat larger :in diameter than the diameter of the rod 11. Thus therod is freely movable through the latch 14 except when the latch 14 istilted, and in this event it engages the rod 11 and holds the rodagainst longitudinal movement through the clamp 9. If the spring 3should break, weight is taken oil of the saddle 7 and the latch 14 wouldthen be free to tilt. This tilting would occur because of the movementof the rod 11 through the latch 14 caused by the door 1 falling, due tothe breaking of the spring 3. The moment that the latch 14 starts totilt it would tightly grip the rod 11 and prevent it from movinglongitudinally, which would immediately hold the door from furtherdownward movement, due to the fact that the eye 12 of the rod 11 isattached to ring 5 which is secured to the frame of the door.

While I have only shown one form of tiltable check latch 14, it isevident that other shapes or styles of check latches could be employedwhich would engage the rod 11 and prevent sliding movement of the rodthrough the clamp 9 if the spring 3 should break.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a check device for springs, the combination of a spring, meansattaching one end of the spring to a fixed element, a movable object,means securing the other end of the spring to the movable object, saidlast named means including a clamp, means securing one end of the springto the clamp, a rod, means securing asid rod to said one end of thespring, the other end of said rod being slidably mounted in said clamp,tiltable latch means engaging said rod at the end adjacent said clamp,said latch means being engaged by the spring securing means to hold thelatch means in nontilting position and allow sliding movement of therod.

2. In a check device for springs, the combination of a spring, meansattaching one end of the spring to a fixed element, a movable object,means securing the other end of the spring to the movable object, saidlast named means including a clamp, means securing one end of the springto the clamp, a rod, means securing said rod to said one end of thespring, the other end of said rod being slidably mounted in said clamp,a tiltable check latch positioned in said clamp, said latch having ahole therein through which the rod extends, the spring securing meansresting on the latch to hold said latch in nontilting position andallowing sliding movement of the rod through the latch.

3. In a check device for springs, the combination of a spring, meansattaching one end of the spring to a fixed element, a movable object, aclamp, a saddle on the other end of the spring, said saddle resting inthe clamp, means attaching the clamp to the movable object, a rod, meanssecuring said rod to said one end of the spring, the other end of saidrod being slidably mounted in said clamp, a tiltable latch resting insaid clamp, said saddle bearing on the tiltable latch to hold said latchin nontilting position, said latch having a hole therein through whichthe rod extends.

4. In a check device for springs, the combination of a coil spring,means attaching one end of the spring to a fixed element, a movableobject, a clamp, means securing said clamp to the movable object, a rod,said rod being positioned within the coil spring, means securing one endof the rod to the fixed end of the spring, said clamp having holestherein through which said rod extends, a tiltable latch means engagingthe rod at the end adjacent said clamp, said latch means being connectedto the other end of the spring to hold the latch means in nontiltingposition and allow sliding movement of the rod.

5. In a check device for springs, the combination of a coil spring,means attaching one end of the spring to a fixed element, a movableobject, a clamp, means securing said clamp to the movable object, a rod,said rod being positioned within the coil spring, means securing one endof the rod to the fixed end of the spring, said clamp having holestherein through which said rod extends, a tiltable latch resting in saidclamp, said latch engaging the rod, and the other end of said springbeing connected to the latch to hold the latch in nontilting po- 10sition and allow sliding movement of the rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,125Lawrence Apr. 29, 1862 769,362 Terry Sept. 6, 1904 1,179,590 WhitcombApr. 18, 1916 1,681,192 McBride Aug. 21, 1928 2,671,253 Hensley Mar. 9,1954

